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*' (No Model.)

T. H. GUNDY. UATAPULT lNo. 534,996. PatentedMar. 5, 1895,.

llNrTEn STATES PATENT Gimon.

THOMAS H. CUNDY, OF PLAIN FIELD, NEW' J ERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, WILLIAM H. NETHERWOOD, AND ROBERT H. RUSTON, OF SAME PLACE.

CATAPU LT.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 534,936, dated. March 5, 1895. Application filed October 20, 1894. Serial No. 526,426. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs I-I. OUNDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Toys, of which the following is a specification.

Heretofore toys of the well known cup and ball pattern have been made wherein a hoop on the end of a handle was provided with a cord netting, the ball being thrown or projected into the air and caughtin the net while falling.

The object of my invention is to provide a device from which the ball can be forcibly projected and also in which the ball as projected can be caught and be again forcibly projected so that a ball may be served and returned in a manner similar to that in tennis playing.

In carrying out my invention I employ a handle and a hoop secured at one end thereof. Elastic strips radiating from a common center are secured at their respective ends to equidistant points of the hoop and areof a length to sag and form a cup or receptacle within the hoop for the ball. The ball rests upon the elastic at the comnon center of the strips and the ball is grasped by one hand from behind while the handle is grasped by the other hand. In this position the ball is drawn back and the elastic stretched, so that when the ball is released it is forcibly ejected, and may be caught'in a similar device to which if a forward movement is given the ball will be again forcibly ejected. The direction of flight of the ball is governed entirely by the manner of holding the handle and hoop.

In the drawings Figure l is a front elevation illustrating my improvement and Fig. 2 is a side elevation and partial section, the ball in both figures being shown by dotted lines, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the ball as drawn back ready to be projected.

a represents the handle and b the hoop secured thereto. These parts are preferably made of wood of any desired shape and are connected together in any desired manner. I have shown them connected by rivets at the spread end of the handle. The elastic strips c radiate from and are by preference molded in one piece with a common center c' and they are secured at their respective ends to equidistant points of the hoop b so as to sag and form a cup or receptacle for the ball d.

The respective ends of the elastic strip c are shown as extending across the inner surface of the hoop b over the edge and across the outer surface, and I prefer to cement these ends to the surfaces of the hoop in order to form a secure connection. I have shown and with this manner of fastening the ends of the strips, I prefer to employ the strip or band e secured around the outer face of the hoop and extending over the ends of the elastic strips. This band c is preferably cemented in place and may be of leather, felt, or other suitable material and serves to prevent the accidental dislodgment of the ends of the elastic strips.

Other means of fastening may be employed without affecting the efficiencyof the elastic device, and while I have shown eight elastic radiatin g strips it is obvious that any number of strips may be employed and that the strips may be of any desired width.

In the operation of the toy the ball d in the elastic receptacle is grasped by the hand and drawn back stretching the elastic as in Fig. 3. When .released the ball is forcibly ejected by the contraction of the elastic. The hall may be caught in another similar toy and by a for- Ward movement thereof be ejected; the action being similar to serving and returninga ball as in tennis playing.

I claim as my invention- 1. A toy for projecting a ball or similar article, consisting of a handle a and hoop b secured to the handle at one end thereof, and elastic strips c within the hoop and connected thereto at their ends and forming a receptacle and projector for the ball, substantially as set forth.

2. A toy for projecting a ball or similar article consisting of a handle a and hoop b se- Vcured to the handle at one end thereof, and

elastic strips extending out from a center and connected at their ends to the hoop and forming an elastic receptacle and projector for the ball, substantially as set forth.

3. A toy for projecting a ball or similar armo ticle consisting of a handle a and hoop b se- Signed by me this 10th day of October, A.

cured to the handle at one end thereof, and D. 1894. elastic strips extending out from a center and connected at their ends to the hoop and forming an elastic receptacle and projector for the \Vitnesses: ball, and the band e around the hoop, substan- GEORGE I-I. POPE, tially as set forth. SAMUEL HARPER.

THOMAS H. CUNDY. 

